Robotic European cargo ship heads to ISS with massive load

The giant load of supplies is on its way to the International Space Station after a European robotic cargo ship launched from South America today. The cargo ship as a five day journey to reach the ISS lifted off from South America today. The automated cargo ship is called ATV-3 and took off at 12:34 AM EDT.

Robotic supply ship was perched atop an Ariane 5 rocket lifted off from the ESA spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The cargo freighter was loaded with 7.2 tons of supplies including experiments, space station fuel, food, and water. ATV-3 carrying the heaviest load of cargo ever delivered to the space station using a robotic craft.

The vehicle is expected to arrive at the space station on March 28 at 6:34 PM ET. The ESA nicknamed ATV-3 the "Edoardo Amaldi." Edoardo Amaldi was an Italian physicist and spaceflight pioneer who is credited with helping to establish the ESA. ATV-3 is 35 feet long and 14.7 feet wide and is disposable.